In this episode of The Makers Studio, we meet Dionne Swift. She is an author, tutor, and artist who exhibits internationally. She creates dynamic stitched textiles using a vibrant mix of threads, colours, and textures.  Discover more about Dionne, her motivations and her approach to projects.
In ...

Kate has worked this element of whitework on 32count linen, using cotton a broder or perle threads. Kate creates the hole using a stylo, this means that no threads are cut, thus keeping your work really strong.

These eyelet designs were often used on garments where both sides of the work would...

This stitch is created in a sort of zig-zag fashion and Niamh says it is one that doesn't look like much, until you get going with it. She really likes to use it to create leaves in her embroidery.

Niamh also has other stitching workshops from the same sampler.
Click here to learn about Satin...

Sallieann has developed this technique for use with the sewing machine. You could do some of it by hand if you wanted. Create the folded texture by having strips of fabric cut on the bias, so that they stretch nicely for you.

You can create added interest by using vinyl instead of fabric. This...

Niamh believes the fly stitch is a close cousin to the lazy daisy embroidery stitch. This is because it is created with a V stitch rather than a loop.

She has used it in the centre of leaves, to create pine branches and flowers.

You also get to see how to sort out a really knotty problem wi...

Kate loves to use pre-printed fabric designs as her inspiration for her embroidery skills and left over threads.

This is a great idea for those just beginning embroidery. Indeed, some of the fabrics have a cross stitch design printed.

In this lovely workshop Kate shares how you can enhance ...

Kate is a very accomplished artist and loves creating textile pictures.

In this comprehensive workshop she shows you how easy it is for you to do this at home. You would start with some pre-dyed fabric perhaps. Then with a little help from freezer paper stencils you add your fabric paint.

I...

In this workshop Sallieann talks you through some of the embroidery stitches she likes to use to hold the fused felt shapes into place. The pattern comes with all the templates you will need for the various shapes. These include the vine wreath, leaves and poinsetta flower.

She suggests using ...

Counted embroidery is a great way for lovers of cross stitch to move into embroidery. Kate talks us through how to create one of the stitches she particularly liked from patterns used in Blackwork.

Kate suggests using a 28 count fabric, as this is easy to see and count. A higher number means t...

In this embroidery workshop Niamh shows how to fill in the iris flower. This simple stitch has the threads laying closely next to each other on top of your work. Niamh guides you through the starting and finishing off. There is also a really clever tip on how to remove your stranded thread from i...

The thumbnail picture for the video shows a lovely piece of work by Sallieann. She worked this by hand and it closely resembles penny rug work.
Sallieann likes to use cotton perle thread (which is not stranded). She talks us through how to work various embroidery stitches that she feels add textu...

The double sided cast on stitch is particularly useful for creating a 3D effect in your embroidery. In this instance Lorna has used it to create the bullrush flower in her garden. This stitch can also be used to create a 3D caterpillar and/or foliage.
Lorna talks you through the threads you can u...

Thermofax screen printing is very straightforward, simple and needs very little space. Sue takes us through the process of creating your own fabric. This can then be used in patchwork projects and perhaps embellished and enhanced with a little bit of embroidery.

The screen prints can also be u...

Lorna’s book, Embroidered Country Garden, is available in the justhands-on.tv shop. It has many wonderful ideas and patterns to inspire you to create beautiful hand-stitched floral designs inspired by nature.
In this video, Lorna demonstrates the turkey work stitch, or tufting, which creates a de...

Lorna has designed and created a number of embroidery projects based on English Country Garden flowers. And now she has incorporated the techniques into her new book. This book will easily earn it’s place on your bookshelf. Plus it will definitely become a firm favourite for beginners and dedicat...

Sashiko stitches represent grains of rice.  Traditionally worked with white thread on blue fabric. Modern Sashiko now uses a variety of colours.
It is basically a simple running stitch. The action of adding fabric to the needle is a little different from traditional English embroidery.
Jennie sho...

A wonderfully simple idea from Janet Clare to create a world map. This uses a layer cake of her own design from Moda fabrics, but you could use your stash.
The map is created with fused applique. With fabric created from random strips to give a scrappy look to each of the land masses.
Her pattern...

Janets design for this little quilt, combines strip pieced Irish chain patchwork with her love of our native wildflowers.  She uses simple tracing, ironing, cutting out, and ironing again to create fused applique.
The book contains full size templates for all the flowers. With additional drawings...

We are going to start with wandering round the West Country Quilt Show, which we did a back in the autumn of 2018. And as well as nosing around lots of other interesting stands and displays and looking  at some of the remarkable competition quilts, we meet super-talented textile artists Fran Holm...

Sashiko stitching is a very traditional stitch and is a form of Japanese quilting; traditional made with Indigo (dark blue) fabric and white Sashiko thread, which is approx the same thickness as a Perle 8 non-standed thread.
Modern quilters have chosen to use other colours, and Lynette shows us a...

In this video workshop, Valerie uses up 5 Fat 1/4m’s. Still, yards would do too and uses the rotary cutter to its best – cutting through several layers of fabric simultaneously – just what it was designed for. Each piece is then precisely the same size as the other. Once you have made all the b...

Wool applique by machine means you are able to get more projects finished than if you would working by hand, but the effect is the same.

Sallieann shows stages of creating this project. She starts with the tracing off the pattern through setting up the machine and the stitch length. Also, she ...

Angela and Paula continue to share with us their varied approach to producing this classic favourite.  Both enjoy using different threads and stitches. Angela explains (and shows) how the different thicknesses of thread make a difference. You can use  some of these on the sewing machine, others m...

Crazy patchwork continues to appeal. Angela and Paula show that you can take different approaches to achieve a similar end result.

By sewing the pieces onto the foundation fabric by hand, with a simple running stitch, it remains very portable;  Angela suggests using up old tray cloths or lace ...